Combined food and drink container

ABSTRACT

A container including parallel opposite sidewalls and parallel opposite end walls disposed at generally right angles relative to the sidewalls. The container includes a partition spaced between and generally paralleling a first pair of the walls and extending between and connected to the other pair of walls for folding with the first pair of walls toward collapsed positions paralleling the latter. Further, an open ended flexible wall container is disposed and supported between the partition and a first wall of the first pair of walls and the portions of the other pair of walls disposed between the partition and first wall.

United States Patent Bill E. Mc F arlin [72] Inventor R.R. Northeast Williston, Williston, N. Dak. 3,288,344 1 H1966 Woollen et al. 58801 [21] AppLNo. 836,845

7/1968 Galeetal...................:::

FOREIGN PATENTS 670,982 4/1952 Great Britain................ Primary Examiner-David M. Bockenek Attorney-John A. Mawhinney [22] Filed June26, 1969 [45] Patented Mar. 2, 1971 [54] COMBINED FOOD AND DRINK CONTAINER 99/172 and first wall.

PATENTED HAR 2 |9?| 817/ E McFarllh INVENTOR ATTORNEY COMBINED FOOD AND DRINK CONTAINER The combined food and drink container of the instant invention has been designed primarily to enable bulk material such as popcorn and the like as well as a liquid refreshment to be housed within the same container. The container is partitioned so as to define a large space for receiving popcorn or the like and a smaller space in which a collapsible pouch is disposed. The pouch is constructed of flexible fluid-impervious material and may therefore have liquid refreshment disposed therein as or after the container of popcorn is purchased. While the pouch illustrated and described hereinafter is open at its top, it is also possible that the pouch could be closed and provided with a scalable neck through which a drinking straw may be inserted when it is desired to consume the liquid refreshment.

It is proposed that the container of the instant invention will be utilized to package solid and liquid foods dispensed at refreshment stands. Several different types of bulk food may be packaged in the larger compartments of the containers to be sold and as each container of bulk food is sold the liquid refreshment selected by the purchaser may be added to the flexible pouch for consumption as the purchaser consumes the bulk food within the larger compartment of the container.

It is accordingly the main object of this invention to provide a container which may be utilized to contain both solid food and liquid refreshments purchased from a refreshment stand.

Another object of this invention is to provide a container in accordance with the immediately preceding object and including means by which the container may be tilted in order that the consumer may drink liquid refreshment directly therefrom while at the same time preventing the solid bulk food within the larger of the compartments in the container from spilling therefrom.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a container in accordance with the preceding objects and which may be folded and stored in a compact state until just prior to introducing both solid bulk food and the liquid refreshment into the compartments of the container.

Another object of this invention is to provide a container in accordance with the preceding objects and which may be readily constructed by slight modifications of existing collapsible containers as the containers are being manufactured.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a multicompartment container in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the container of the instant invention with the top thereof open and with a straw illustrated in phantom lines extending downwardly into the flexible pouch disposed within the smaller compartment of the container;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the sec'tion'line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a slightly modified form of container including an automatically forming bottom wall and a partition wall whose lower end terminates a spaced distance above the lower end of the container so as to provide clearance for the automatically forming bottom wall when the portions thereof are in their folded positions.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the carton or container of the instant invention. The carton 10 includes front and rear walls 12 and I4, opposite sidewalls 16 and! I8, and a bottom wall structure referred to in general by the reference numeral 20.

The upper ends of the sidewalls 16 and 18 include bendable flaps 16 and 18' foldable toward horizontal positions projecting toward each other and the upper ends of the front and rear walls are provided with similar foldable flaps l2 and 14', respectively. The flap 12' has a pair of opposite end openings 22 formed therein and is adapted to be folded inwardly over the flaps 16 and 18'. Further, the flap 14' includes a pair of bendable tabs 24 which are insertable in the openings 22 after the flap 14' has been folded inwardly over the flap 12'. In this manner, the open upper end of the container or carton 10 may be closed.

The carton 10 includes an inner partition 26 which is spaced intermediate and generally parallels the sidewalls l6 and 18. The partition 26 is spaced closer to the sidewall 18 and includes front and rear oppositely directed flanges 28 and 30 which are secured to the front and rear walls 12 and 14. The junctures between the flanges 28 and .30 and the partition 26 define fold lines and the bottom wall structure 20 is of a type similar to that defined by the flaps 12", 14', 16', and I8. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the carton 10, when the bottom wall structure 20 is opened, may be folded into a flat condition for compact shipment and storage.

The area defined between the partition 26 and the sidewall 16 is adapted to receive solid bulk food stuff therein such as popcorn and the area between the partition 26 and the sidewall 18 has a pouch referred to in general by the reference numeral 32 disposed therein. The pouch 32 is constructed of any suitable fluid-impervious flexible material such as plastic and the pouch 32 includes upper peripheral portions which are suitably secured to the upper marginal edges of the front and rear walls 12 and 14, the sidewall 18 and the partition 26 which define the area in which the pouch 32 is received. Any suitable means such as adhesive or other bonding materials exclusive of or in addition to staples 34 may be utilized to secure the pouch 32 within the smaller compartment of the container The container 10 further includes an additional flap 36 which includes one marginal edge portion 38 suitably secured to the portion of the upper marginal edge of the rear wall 14 extending between the partition 26 and the sidewall 16. The flap 36 is foldable relative to the marginal portion 38 and is swingable downwardly from the position thereof illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings to a horizontal position fully closing the upper end of the larger compartmentwithin the container 10.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 3 of the drawings, there may be seen a modified form of container referred to in general by the reference numeral 110 and which is very similar to the container 10 and has its parts corresponding to the similar parts of the container 10 designated by corresponding numerals in the series. The container differs from the container 10 in that the bottom wall structure thereof is of a conventional type that is folded up into the area defined between the upstanding walls of the container 110 when the container 110 is folded and which will be automatically swung to the operative position illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings as the container 110 is: unfolded from a flattened condition.

When this type of bottom wall structure 120 is used, the lower end of the partition 126 is terminated a spaced distance above the lower end of the container 110 so as to provide clearance for the bottom wall structure 120 when it is in its collapsed position. While it may also be necessary to terminate the lower end of the pouch 1.32 a spaced distance above the bottom of the container 110, in some instances the flexible nature of the pouch 132 will allow the pouch 132 to be full length and still not interfere with the folding of the bottom wall structure 120.

In operation, popcorn 40 or the like may be disposed within the large compartment within the container 10. Then, as the container of popcorn is sold and the purchaser wishes a refreshing drink, the drink may be placed within the pouch 32 and a straw 42 may be provided the purchaser for drinking the liquid from within the pouch 32. On the other hand, if the upper peripheral edges of the pouch 32 are fully sealed relative to the adjacent walls of the container 10, as will be accomplished when desired, the purchaser of the container 10 may drink liquid from the pouch 32 by tilting the container 10 in the usual manner with his lips engaging the upper marginal portion of one of the outer corners of the container adjacent the pouch 32 after having swung the flap 36 to the horizontal closed position in order to prevent the popcorn 40 from spilling out of the large compartment of the container 10. Further, if the purchaser of the container 10 is to drink directly from the carton 10, the flap 18 as well as one or both of the adjacent flaps 12' or 14 may be connected to the corresponding walls of the container by a perforated portion of the container so as to enable these flaps to be readily torn from the container to facilitate the drinking of liquid directly from the container 10. Also, the containers l and 110 may be constructed of various materials such as Styrofoam, plastic and cardboard (coated or uncoated), etc. In any event, the containers will be inexpensive and thus disposable.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

lclaim:

l. A container provided with parallel opposite sidewalls and parallel opposite end walls disposed at generally right angles relative to the sidewalls, a partition spaced between and generally paralleling a first pair of said walls and extending between and connected to the other pair of walls, said first pair of walls and partition being secured to the other pair of walls for folding relative thereto toward collapsed positions paralleling the latter, a flexible wall pouch disposed and supported between the partition and a first wall of said first pair of walls and the portions of the other pair of walls extending between the partition and said first wall, said container including closure wall means extending between and supported from one pair of corresponding ends of said side and end walls, said pouch including a closed end adjacent said closure wall means, said closure wall comprising a plurality of folding closure wall flaps supported from said walls and connected together for folding inwardly between said walls when the later are folded toward the collapsed positions, said partition terminating a spaced distance inwardly from said corresponding ends of said side and end walls, whereby to provide clearance for said closure wall flaps when folded inwardly.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pouch includes an open end remote from said closed end.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said pouch is constructed of fluid-impervious material.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said fluid-impervious material comprises a material having low heat transfer properties.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pouch includes portions thereof secured to said partition, said first wall and the portions of said other walls extending between said partition and said first wall.

6. In combination, an upright carton including first and second pairs of generally parallel opposite walls with adjacent walls hingedly connected to each other for swinging toward collapsed positions with said walls paralleling each other, and a flexible wall upright pouch disposed and supported between one pair of corresponding upstanding edge portions of said first pair of walls and adjacent the wall of said second pair of walls extending between said corresponding upstanding edge portions, the upper ends of said carton and pouch including access openings for removing material therefrom, one of said walls including an upper end swingableflap which may be angularly displaced between a close position closing the upper portion of the carton disposed between the other pair of corresponding upstanding edge portions of said first pairs of walls, said carton including upper end top wall defining flaps swingable into position closing the entire upper end of the carton.

7. In combination, an upright carton including first and a second pairs of generally parallel opposite walls with adjacent walls connected together for swinging toward collapsed positions with said walls paralleling each other, a partition spaced between and generally paralleling a first pair of said walls and extending between and connected to the other pair of walls, said partition being connected to said other pair of walls for folding with said first pari of walls relative to said first pair of walls, the upper end of said carton being open, one of said walls including an upper end swingable flap which may be angularly displaced between a closed position closing the upper portion of the carton disposed on one side of the partition, said carton further including upper end top wall defining flaps swingable into position closing the entire upper end of the carton.

8. The combination of claim 6 including a partition generally paralleling one pair of said walls and hingedly secured to the other pair of walls, said flexible wall pouch being disposed and supported between said partition and one wall of said second pair of walls. 

1. A container provided with parallel opposite sidewalls and parallel opposite end walls disposed at generally right angles relative to the sidewalls, a partition spaced between and generally paralleling a first pair of said walls and extending between and connected to the other pair of walls, said first pair of walls and partition being secured to the other pair of walls for folding relative thereto toward collapsed positions paralleling the latter, a flexible wall pouch disposed and supported between the partition and a first wall of said first pair of walls and the portions of the other pair of walls extending between the partition and said first wall, said container including closure wall means extending between and supported from one pair of corresponding ends of said side and end walls, said pouch including a closed end adjacent said closure wall means, said closure wall comprising a plurality of folding closure wall flaps supported from said walls and connected together for folding inwardly between said walls when the later are folded toward the collapsed positions, said partition terminating a spaced distance inwardly from said corresponding ends of said side and end walls, whereby to provide clearance for said closure wall flaps when folded inwardly.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pouch includes an open end remote from said closed end.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said pouch is constructed of fluid-impervious material.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said fluid-impervious material comprises a material having low heat transfer properties.
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pouch includes portions thereof secured to said partition, said first wall and the portions of said other walls extending between said partition and said first wall.
 6. In combination, an upright carton including first and second pairs of generally parallel opposite walls with adjacent walls hingedly connected to each other for swinging toward collapsed positions with said walls paralleling each other, and a flexible wall upright pouch disposed and supported between one pair of corresponding upstanding edge portions of said first pair of walls and adjacent the wall of said second pair of walls extending between said corresponding upstanding edge portions, the upper ends of said carton and pouch including access openings for removing material therefrom, one of said walls including an upper end swingable flap which may be angularly displaced between a closed position closing the upper portion of the carton disposed between the other pair of corresponding upstanding edge portions of said first pairs of walls, said carton including upper end top wall defining flaps swingable into position closing the entire upper end of the carton.
 7. In combination, an upright carton including first and a second pairs of generally parallel opposite walls with adjacent walls connected together for swinging toward collapsed positions with said walls paralleling each other, a partition spaced between and generally paralleling a first pair of said walls and extending between and connected to the other pair of walls, said partition being connected to said other pair of walls for folding with said first pari of walls relative to said first pair of walls, the upper end of said carton being open, one of said walls including an upper end swingable flap which may be angularly displaced between a closed position closing the upper portion of the carton disposed on one side of the partition, said carton further including upper end top wall defining flaps swingable into position closing the entire upper end of the carton.
 8. The combination of claim 6 including a partition generally paralleling one pair of said walls and hingedly secured to the other pair of walls, said flexible wall pouch being disposed and supported between said partition and one wall of said second pair of walls. 